Chemistry of Plant-Pathogen Interactions

在众多的植物微生物病害中，真菌病害是全世界造成作物损失最大的病害。虽然使用抗病植物品种可以减少产量损失，但通常使用杀菌剂来最大限度地提高作物产量。对污染和农业生产可持续性的持续关注继续激励着这个研究项目。我们的总体目标是利用环境和生态可持续的方法了解和控制植物真菌病害。在我们的研究中，特别强调的是加拿大最重要的油籽作物之一油菜籽，以及花椰菜、西兰花、芜菁甘蓝等蔬菜，以及它们最具破坏性的真菌病原体。到2015年，加拿大预计将把油菜籽产量提高65%，达到1500万吨！这种增加对真菌病和其他害虫的影响是什么？现在，了解和生产抗病作物的研究比以往任何时候都更加重要。

Among numerous plant microbial diseases, fungal diseases cause the largest crop losses worldwide. Although yield losses are attenuated by the use of disease-tolerant plant varieties, application of fungicides is often used to maximize crop yields. Ongoing concerns about pollution and sustainability of agriculture production continue to inspire this research program. Our overall objective is to understand and control plant fungal diseases using environmentally and ecologically sustainable methods. Of particular emphasis in our studies is canola, one of the most important Canadian oilseed crops, as well as vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, rutabaga, and their most damaging fungal pathogens. Canada is expected to boost canola production by 65% to 15 million tonnes by 2015! What will be the impact of this increase on fungal diseases and other pests? Now, more than ever, studies to understand and produce disease resistant crops are essential.